Songs of Innocence, and Songs of Experience

By William Blake

Songs of Innocence and Experience brings together two books of poetry by William Blake that delve into these two opposing states of the human soul. His Songs of Innocence are often cheerful and sweet and always demonstrate the purity of youth, as Blake explores themes of freedom, happiness, loss and religion. The optimism of innocence is keenly contrasted by Blake's Songs of Experience, which feature a more realistic and often darker view of the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JH
• Release date: Mar 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9788834103722

William Blake

William Blake was born in London in 1757. He was apprenticed to a master engraver and then studied at the Royal Academy under the guidance of Joshua Reynolds. In 1789 he engraved and published Songs of Innocence and the contrasting Songs of Experience came later in 1794. A poet, painter and printmaker of great originality and imagination, his work was largely unrecognized during his lifetime and he struggled to make a living. Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. He died in 1827.

Book preview

Songs of Innocence, and Songs of Experience

William Blake

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SONGS OF INNOCENCE

INTRODUCTION

Piping down the valleys wild,

  Piping songs of pleasant glee,

On a cloud I saw a child,

  And he laughing said to me:

‘Pipe a song about a Lamb!’

  So I piped with merry cheer.

‘Piper, pipe that song again.’

  So I piped: he wept to hear.

‘Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe;

  Sing thy songs of happy cheer!’

So I sung the same again,

  While he wept with joy to hear.

p. 2‘Piper, sit thee down and write

  In a book, that all may read.’

So he vanished from my sight;

  And I plucked a hollow reed,

And I made a rural pen,

  And I stained the water clear,

And I wrote my happy songs

  Every child may joy to hear.

p. 3THE SHEPHERD

How sweet is the shepherd’s sweet lot!

From the morn to the evening he strays;

He shall follow his sheep all the day,

And his tongue shall be fillèd with praise.

For he hears the lambs’ innocent call,

And he hears the ewes’ tender reply;

He is watchful while they are in peace,

For they know when their shepherd is nigh.

p. 4THE ECHOING GREEN

The sun does arise,

And make happy the skies;

The merry bells ring

To welcome the Spring;

The skylark and thrush,

The birds of the bush,

Sing louder around

To the bells’ cheerful sound;

While our sports shall be seen

On the echoing green.

Old John, with white hair,

Does laugh away care,

Sitting under the